Panama City, Fla. -
Treatment for cancer is a complicated process. With the help of sophisticated scanning technology, doctors can more precisely identify cancer cells and better treat the patient.
PET scans and CT scans are used to identify abnormal cells in the body. Advanced technology now combines those two scans into one for a more comprehensive image.
Chris Gainer is a Medical Dosimetrist at Bay Regional Cancer Center. A Dosimetrist works with Radiation Oncologists to devise treatment plans for patients. The CT and PET scans are a crucial part of that plan.
"The CT scan is an older technology. The PET scan is newer and can detect cancer at the molecular level, so the PET scan shows the function of the tumor," Dr. Hasan Murshed explains.
He says a PET scan and a CT scan can be fused together in order to make radiation treatment more precise.
"I can pinpoint the target more accurately," Dr. Murshed points out. This reduces the amount of radiation given to structures not affected by the cancer and helps avoid side effects from radiation.
Gainer explains that "cancer cells will utilize more sugar for energy than a normal cell." During a PET scan, a patient is injected with a sugar solution with a radioactive tracer. He says structures that are utilizing a lot of sugar will show up bright white. This makes it easy to identify the problem areas.
Then when you fuse the PET scan and the CT scan, doctors have a better grasp on the areas affected and where the radiation should be targeted.
The advanced scanning technology helps with early detection as well as treatment. These scans can be used by doctors if cancer is suspected and to track treatment progress once a diagnosis has been confirmed.
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